Jesus asks: Who do you say that I am?
John 14:6 Jesus said: I am the way the truth and the life, no one comes to the Father but by me.
John 18: 37-8
Pilate therefore said unto him, Art thou a king then? Jesus answered, Thou sayest that I am a king. To this end was I born, and for this cause came I into the world, that I should bear witness unto the truth. Every one that is of the truth heareth my voice.
38 Pilate saith unto him, What is truth?
The truth is out of reach for the Know-it-All
John 9:24-41
24Then again called they the man that was blind, and said unto him, Give God the praise: we know that this man is a sinner.
25He answered and said, Whether he be a sinner or no, I know not: one thing I know, that, whereas I was blind, now I see.
26Then said they to him again, What did he to thee? how opened he thine eyes?
27He answered them, I have told you already, and ye did not hear: wherefore would ye hear it again? will ye also be his disciples?
28Then they reviled him, and said, Thou art his disciple; but we are Moses’ disciples.
29We know that God spake unto Moses: as for this fellow, we know not from whence he is.
30The man answered and said unto them, Why herein is a marvellous thing, that ye know not from whence he is, and yet he hath opened mine eyes.
31Now we know that God heareth not sinners: but if any man be a worshipper of God, and doeth his will, him he heareth.
32Since the world began was it not heard that any man opened the eyes of one that was born blind.
33If this man were not of God, he could do nothing.
34They answered and said unto him, Thou wast altogether born in sins, and dost thou teach us? And they cast him out.
35Jesus heard that they had cast him out; and when he had found him, he said unto him, Dost thou believe on the Son of God?
36He answered and said, Who is he, Lord, that I might believe on him?
37And Jesus said unto him, Thou hast both seen him, and it is he that talketh with thee.
38And he said, Lord, I believe. And he worshipped him.
39And Jesus said, For judgment I am come into this world, that they which see not might see; and that they which see might be made blind.
40And some of the Pharisees which were with him heard these words, and said unto him, Are we blind also?
41Jesus said unto them, If ye were blind, ye should have no sin: but now ye say, We see; therefore your sin remaineth.
sometimes, like Peter, we must be reminded Who He Is.
John 6:64
64 But there are some of you that believe not. For Jesus knew from the beginning who they were that believed not, and who should betray him.
65And he said, Therefore said I unto you, that no man can come unto me, except it were given unto him of my Father.
66From that time many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him.
67Then said Jesus unto the twelve, Will ye also go away?
68Then Simon Peter answered him, Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life.
69And we believe and are sure that thou art that Christ, the Son of the living God.
Luke 22:32 Jesus said to Peter Satan has desired to sift you like wheat “But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not, when thou art converted strengthen thy brethren. . . “
John 18:27 Peter then denied again: and immediately the cock crew.
also Mark 14:72 (Peter) when he thought thereon, he wept.
Peter’s Sermon
Acts 4:10-12
10Be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even by him doth this man stand here before you whole.
11This is the stone which was set at nought of you builders, which is become the head of the corner.
12Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.
Desperation – a state of hopelessness where one grasps at straws hoping for a miracle.
We need the miracle of Christ’s love. All else is hay, wood and stubble.
Woman at the well – always looking for the perfect man (5+ husbands) but finally meets Jesus
Naaman – 7 times dipped in Jordan
Job 42 – I beheld Him and no have no words left
Zacharias (John Baptist father) left dumb due to unbelief, restored when he “confessed” (agreed) with the angel’s decree of John’s name
Saul – Who are you Lord? He says “it is tough to kick against the goad” Acts 9:5
Has the Lord been goading you – to get you to change your way of thinking?
Jesus asks: Who do you say that I am?
I know whom I have believed and am persuaded that He is able, to keep that which I’ve committed unto Him against that day!
Extra:
Human Reason –
Cart before the horse
We please God through good works, obedience to God and loving others.
Martin Luther
What pleases God according to the foolishness of the gospel? Being desperately dependent on God for everything!
Justification and Sanctification are separate.
We are justified by Christ and our response to His love is a desire to be like Him.